Law Minister to fight case for journalists

Rtv online report

| 06 Feb 2018, 00:00 | Update : 06 Feb 2018, 22:19

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Huq has said that if any journalist would be accused for his objective report under section 32 of the proposed Digital Security Act then he himself will fight the case for journalist with free of cost.
He said this at Meet the Press program organized by Law Reporters Forum (LRF) at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Tuesday.
Anisul Huq said, the new Digital Security Act will not be a barrier to investigative reporting. To protect investigative journalism a sub-section will be included under section 32, if necessary.
He said, gathering information is not spying. Through this act crimes are specified. There is minimum punishment for minor crime and maximum punishment for major crime.
Law Minister said, if journalists collect information secretly for investigative report then it will not be counted as spying. If anybody handed over secret information of the state or government to the enemy of government then it will be counted as spying. Then steps will be taken against the person.
Mentioning Bangladesh Bank money heist the Minister said, how we will punish these criminals? So the Digital Security Act is being formulated.
LRF president Ashutosh Sarkar, general secretary Azizul Islam Pannu, vice president Mashudul Haque and founding general secretary Kazi Abdul Hannan were present on the occasion.
AH